COMMON STOCK I
Credit: GAMES Magazine
Feb/Mar 1987

Mike Shenk

The four answers in each numbered set below have something in common. To discover what, fill in the blanks to complete the words reading across. The letters you put in the blanks, taken in order from left to right, must also spell shorter words. These shorter words will all be members of the same category. For example, the first word in set #1 is NUTHATCH, with the shorter word being UTAH. The remaining three shorter words in #1 will also be U.S. states. Getting one answer in a set will help you get the others, but breaking into a set can be tricky. The categories for the shorter words in sets #2, 3, 4, and 5 are listed as a hint.

Set #1

N U T H A T C H
D _ S A V _ _ _ L
_ _ R _ _ _ R
F _ _ _ _ _ _ E

Set #2

_ U P P _ _ M _ N _
_ _ T _ O _
_ _ N D B _ L _
_ U _ D _ _ N

Set #3

_ I S H W _ _ _ _ _
B I _ _ S _ _ _
_ _ _ P _ _ E
A _ V _ _ _ _ _

Set #4

M O N T I _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ A T _ O _
_ _ I _ _ I E C E
B _ _ S _ _ R Y

Set #5

_ _ _ K B _ _ E
F _ _ M _ A _ L E
_ A T C H W _ _ _
_ _ R _ _ T

HINTS for categories of shorter words:
Set #2: Forms of precipitation
Set#3: Santa's reindeer
Set #4: Stringed instruments
Set #5: Meats

Answers:

Set #1:
UTAH (nuthatch)
IOWA (disavowal)
MAINE (mariner)
OREGON (foregone)

Set#2:
SLEET (supplement)
RAIN (ration)
HAIL handbill)
SNOW (sundown)

Set #3:
DASHER (dishwasher)
CUPID (bicuspid)
COMET (compete)
DANCER (advancer)

Set #4:
CELLO (Monticello)
VIOLIN (violation)
HARP (hairpiece)
LUTE (blustery)

Set #5:
BACON (backbone)
LAMB (flammable)
PORK (patchwork)
BEEF (bereft)